In the Line of Duty
James F. Hopkins, 1965 - 1998
Corrections Officer James F. Hopkins, age 33, was killed in the line of duty
on August 21, 1998 in a motor vehicle accident. At the time of Officer Hopkins'
death, he was driving an inmate transportation van when another vehicle operated
by an intoxicated person crossed the median and struck Officer Hopkins' vehicle.
Officer Hopkins was ejected from the van, which carried twelve inmates sentenced
to the Missouri Department of Corrections and he died at the scene from his
injuries.
His fellow officer in the van received cuts, bruises and
broken bones. An occupant of a third vehicle also received fatal injuries.
The intoxicated driver of the vehicle causing Officer Hopkins' death received a
seven year sentence for Involuntary Manslaughter. The driver also received a
concurrent seven year sentence for the other fatality, concurrent two year
sentences for injuries to Officer Hopkins' partner and occupants of other
vehicles and a one year sentence for each injured inmate. The driver had two
prior Driving While Intoxicated convictions and numerous prior traffic offenses.
The driver was sentenced to a total of seventeen years. At sentencing the
prosecutor stated, "Justice demands that the defendant serve the maximum time
for taking two innocent lives".
Officer Hopkins resided in Pine Lawn, Missouri and was a lifelong
St. Louis area resident. He had graduated from Christian Brothers College (CBC), a
college preparatory high school in 1982 and received a Bachelor of Science degree
in Criminal Justice from Southeast Missouri State University in 1990. He joined
the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services in January of 1993.
Officer Hopkins served as Corrections Officer in the Main Confinement (maximum
custody) section of the St. Louis County Jail prior to his selection as a
Transportation Officer. Officer Hopkins was selected for the Transportation
Unit based on his exemplary performance as a Corrections Officer. During his
career with Justice Services, officer Hopkins was a well trained, dedicated
corrections professional.
In the Line of Duty
Henry E. Thierry, 1906 - 1970
Corrections Officer Henry E. (Hank) Thierry, age 64, was killed at the St. Louis
County Jail on July 10, 1970. Officer Thierry was killed during a planned jail
disturbance by inmates, who attempted to create a diversion for their planned
escape. Officer Thierry was found under a bunk with a sheet around his neck,
his hands tied behind his back and a rag stuffed in his mouth. Thierry was
working overtime on his off day and was scheduled to retire in three days.
Officer Thierry of Brentwood, Missouri was jumped when he entered a prisoner cell
block to remove food trays. He was also beaten with makeshift blackjacks
fashioned by inmates from socks filled with bars of soap. Two inmates then pried
a screen from a window of the outdated jail and attempted to escape with use of
bed sheets tied together. The escape never succeeded as the first prisoner
became stuck when his shoulders wedged in the narrow opening.
After a verdict of homicide by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office,
two inmates were subsequently charged by a St. Louis County Grand Jury with
First Degree Murder and Escape Attempt. Both inmates were awaiting trial on
robbery charges and had previous escapes from a state penitentiary. One inmate
ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a ten year sentence
consecutive to life term for four counts of robbery. It was determined that
law enforcement authorities believed Officer Thierry was not killed intentionally.
The fate of the other prisoner is not available.
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